Eagles bolster blocking with Johnson

April 26, 2013|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

NFL Team Report - Philadelphia Eagles - INSIDE SLANT

The Eagles had four players they were comfortable taking with the fourth pick in the draft Thursday night - offensive tackles Eric Fisher of Central Michigan, Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M and Lane Johnson of Oklahoma and defensive end/linebacker Dion Jordan or Oregon.

Fisher went first to Kansas City, Joeckel second to Jacksonville and Jordan third to Miami, which traded up from No. 12, leaving the Eagles to happily select Johnson.

Head coach Chip Kelly said the Eagles had Fisher, Joeckel and Johnson, who only has been playing offensive tackle for two years after starting his career as a quarterback, and then moving to defensive end and tight end, all rated evenly.

"We had them all together," he said. "So it was going to happen the way it was going to fall. We weren't going to trade. We thought there was a group of four that we really, really like and we were going to see how the draft was going to unfold."

The athletic Johnson is a good bet to be the Eagles' season-opening starting right tackle. Todd Herremans, who was the team's starting right tackle before breaking his foot last November and missing the final eight games, probably will move back inside to guard. He had spent most of his career at guard before moving to right tackle in 2011.

"I don't know depth charts or any of those other things," Kelly said. "Let's get Lane in here and let him actually take a few reps and run around a little bit.

"We do know that Todd has some flexibility and that's the great thing about him, because Todd has played inside and outside. I think the other thing with Lane that is great about his flexibility is he has played the right side and he's played the left side. We're going to let them all battle it out. they're going to win the jobs out on the field, but having some versatility makes a more versatile football team. Having him and having Todd, we obviously look at that as a positive."

The Eagles' current left tackle, Jason Peters, missed all of last season after rupturing his Achilles tendon. He was a first-team All Pro in 2011, but is 31 years old and there is no guarantee he will return to his previous form.

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NFL Team Report - Philadelphia Eagles - NOTES, QUOTES

--The Eagles have not had a lot of luck in the second and third rounds. Since 2003, they've selected 22 players in those rounds. Only two - wide receiver DeSean Jackson (second round, 2008) and running back LeSean McCoy (second round, 2009) have made it to the Pro Bowl. Just six of those 22 players, including Jackson and McCoy, started 32 or more games with the Eagles.

--The Eagles are expected to take a quarterback at some point in the final six rounds. It could possibly happen Friday. The Eagles own the third pick in the second round. Only one quarterback was taken in the first round -- EJ Manuel of Florida State. Geno Smith of West Virginia, who was regarded as the top quarterback in the draft by many analysts, still is on the board. Kelly won't see if the Eagles will take a quarterback. Asked Thursday how deep he can go in the draft and still get a quality quarterback, he said, "I don't know."

--Running back LeSean McCoy is excited about the tempo of the team's offense, while realizing there will be the need for multiple backs to play.

McCoy said, "This is the kind of offense where it's not a debate, 'Oh, I could do it myself,' because, one, you're going to do more plays than any other offense, even in practice. For two, the amount of hits. You're running so much. If you're faking it or you're running it, or if it's a pass or not, you're constantly going. I think any back, no matter how great of a shape that he's in, he's going to need some extra help.

"I know that, and Bryce (Brown) is good enough that he can play. I think every team has two good backs if you look around the league and I think Bryce is good enough and I'm confident in myself that I think us together will work well. In this offense, you need another back. And don't be surprised if Chris Polk gets some carries because you're running so much it's like a freaking track meet. It's like a relay, you need extra guys."

--The Eagles' new coach Chip Kelly is big on science and nutrition. That has been evident at the team's pre-draft minicamp this week. As players come off the practice field at the NovaCare Complex, there are personalized protein recovery shakes and fruit waiting for them on tables on the way to the locker room. Players have been wearing heart monitors during practice and sleep monitors at home.

"It's like he came in and overhauled the building," said guard Danny Watkins. "Actually, he did take the doors off in some rooms. He's changed everything. Strength and conditioning (is different). Nutrition. How we recover. And the major stuff. The offense and how we're running things out here."